veteran cricketer Abhishek Nayar expresses dismay over Shreyas Iyer's omission from India's roster for the Asia Cup tournament
Shreyas Iyer, who had a stellar IPL season with Punjab, was conspicuously absent from India's Asia Cup 2025 main squad and even the reserves[1]. The chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, confirmed the omission, though he did not provide specific reasons[4].
Iyer's impressive performance in the IPL was undeniable, as he scored an impressive 604 runs[2]. His strike rate during the season was a commendable 175.07. Despite this, the selectors opted for Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and captain Suryakumar Yadav to fill the middle-order roles in the final Asia Cup squad[3].
The exclusion of Iyer, a player who had previously shone in the IPL, has sparked debate and speculation. AB de Villiers, a cricket expert, suggested that off-field issues might be the reason for Iyer's surprising omission[1]. Former player Abhishek Nayar shared similar sentiments, expressing surprise at Iyer's complete exclusion and questioning what reason could justify leaving him out of the 20-member squad for the Asia Cup[5].
Nayar further speculated that the selectors might not be viewing Iyer as a T20 option anymore, or even as an option in general[6]. He also questioned whether Iyer is still in contention even if someone gets injured or things don't work out for other players[7].
The selectors' decision to omit Iyer from the Asia Cup squad has been a topic of discussion and speculation. Some analysts and former players have expressed surprise at Iyer's exclusion, given his IPL form and white-ball performance[5]. However, there is speculation that someone like Riyan Parag might be ahead of Iyer in the selectors' eyes[8].
The selection of the final 15-member squad for the Asia Cup was a difficult task due to the depth of talent in the current Indian setup[9]. The Asia Cup squad selection process was particularly challenging, with the selectors having to balance on-field performance with off-field considerations.
In summary, the combination of selectors’ choices and alleged off-field concerns led to Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the Asia Cup squad despite his stellar IPL season. The debate surrounding Iyer's exclusion continues as fans and analysts await further clarification from the selectors.
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